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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Viator Tours & Attractions vs Big Bus Tours

Viator Tours & Attractions 4.9★ · Free to download 75
Winner Viator Tours & Attractions
Big Bus Tours 4.8★ · Free to download 45

Viator Tours & Attractions offers a wider variety of tours and generally more reliable booking, while Big Bus Tours struggles with app accuracy and bus service consistency.

Full reviews: Viator Tours & Attractions · Big Bus Tours

Viator offers a vast selection of tours globally with generally easy booking, though customer service and refund issues are noted. Big Bus Tours focuses on hop-on/hop-off experiences but faces significant problems with app accuracy, bus tracking, and inconsistent service.

Head to head

Tour Variety & Booking Options edge: Viator Tours & AttractionsR2R8R11R17
Viator Tours & Attractions Viator is praised for its extensive selection of tours and activities, both popular and off-the-beaten-path, across many international locations R8R11R17R29. Users find the booking process generally easy and a 'breeze' R2.
Big Bus Tours Big Bus Tours focuses on hop-on/hop-off bus tours, which some users find a great way to get acquainted with a city . However, some users report issues with specific cities not being available in the app despite purchasing tickets .
App Usability & Features tieR2R3R5R12
Viator Tours & Attractions Many users find the Viator app easy to navigate and use for booking R2R5. However, some report login issues , difficulty changing payment methods or viewing past bookings R3, and glitches with booking dates or adding people to tours R12R19. Some also dislike the auto-slideshow feature and frustrating search filters .
Big Bus Tours The Big Bus Tours app is considered 'ready to use' and helpful for seeing a place . Features like the 'locate me' button and bus tracker are appreciated . However, the bus tracker is frequently reported as inaccurate or not working R72R73R85R100. Users also note issues with city options missing , maps being inaccurate , and a lack of features like storing tickets in the app or showing bus ETAs .
Reliability & Service Delivery edge: Viator Tours & AttractionsR1R7R10R19
Viator Tours & Attractions Viator is seen as a reliable company by many long-term users . However, there are numerous complaints about tours being canceled last minute R10, itineraries not matching the experience R7, and tour operators abandoning guests R1. Some users also report issues with tour operators not showing up or system glitches causing double bookings or incorrect dates R19.
Big Bus Tours Big Bus Tours experiences significant reliability issues. Buses are often delayed , routes are changed without notice R73, and buses skip major stops R73. Many users report long waiting times for buses , and some buses lack AC, making rides uncomfortable in hot weather R64R78R79R81. There are also reports of audio guides not working or being out of sync R78.
Customer Support & Refunds tieR6R7R15R22
Viator Tours & Attractions Viator's customer service receives mixed reviews. While some find chat assistance helpful and customer service responsive R7, many users report unhelpful support when issues arise R22. A common complaint is that Viator, as a platform, defers refund decisions to the tour operator, often resulting in denied refunds even for legitimate issues like missed tours due to unforeseen circumstances or operator no-shows R6R7R15R22.
Big Bus Tours Big Bus Tours customer service is frequently described as unhelpful or a 'joke' R73. Users report difficulties getting refunds, even when buses are severely delayed or services are not delivered as promised . There are instances where tickets are lost, and despite proof of purchase, replacement or continued service is denied .
Price & Value edge: Viator Tours & AttractionsR8R29R41R55
Viator Tours & Attractions Viator is praised for offering great deals and fair prices R8R29R41R55. Users appreciate the value, especially with cash back rewards R55 and the ability to find affordable options like a walking tour for 4€ R8.
Big Bus Tours While some find Big Bus Tours a good way to get around , many users feel it's a 'waste of money' due to poor service, long waits, and unfulfilled promises . The cost, such as $340 for a two-day family pass or $60 per ticket for a service that doesn't deliver , is often deemed not worth it.
Pick Viator Tours & Attractions if

you want a wide selection of tours and activities globally, appreciate easy booking, and are comfortable with a platform that acts as an intermediary for tour operators R2R11R29.

Pick Big Bus Tours if

you are specifically looking for hop-on/hop-off bus tours and are willing to tolerate potential issues with bus tracking, schedule adherence, and customer service .

Evidence note: Viator has a significantly larger number of reviews, providing a broader base of feedback. Big Bus Tours' reviews are more concentrated on specific service delivery issues related to their bus operations.

Frequently asked

Does Viator offer good deals on tours?
Yes, many users report finding great deals and fair prices on Viator, with some even mentioning cash back rewards and very affordable options like a 4€ walking tour R8R29R41R55.
Is the Big Bus Tours app's bus tracking accurate?
No, the bus tracking feature in the Big Bus Tours app is frequently reported as inaccurate, unreliable, or not working at all, leading to long waiting times and difficulty planning R72R73R85R100.
How does Viator handle refunds for canceled tours?
Viator acts as a facilitator, and refund decisions for issues like cancellations or unsatisfactory experiences are often dependent on the actual tour vendor's approval, which can lead to denied refunds even when users feel they are entitled to one R6R7R15R22.
Do Big Bus Tours have air conditioning?
Many Big Bus Tours do not have air conditioning, which can lead to uncomfortable experiences, especially in hot weather, and this information is often not prominently displayed R64R78R79R81.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R2] Viator Tours & Attractions 5/5 · US Viator Booking: I am in town for a sorority convention and I’ve booked two activities through viator and it has been a breeze.
  2. [R8] Viator Tours & Attractions 5/5 · US Great deals!: I love using Viator to book fun adventures! Any time I’m in a city I open the app it gives me great options to do fun things that I wouldn’t even think of! Recently I hit a walking tour in Lisbon for 4€. Deal!
  3. [R11] Viator Tours & Attractions 5/5 · US Adventures on Steroids: This app has helped me to find both popular and off the beaten path adventures so that I could plan out the best vacations for my family in NYC, Nashville, and Key West.. so far. More to come!
  4. [R17] Viator Tours & Attractions 5/5 · US Great App and Great Experiences: I’ve started traveling internationally in the last year or so and the Viator App makes it easy to book local experiences and get a wonderful experience. The guides are always friendly and knowledgeable and the options plentiful for what I want to do. Sometimes I can’t spend a full day exploring so the options that are just a few hours work really well for me! Also
  5. [R3] Viator Tours & Attractions 3/5 · US Great for booking tours buuuut: App is great for booking tours but I was unable to change or add a new payment method. I was also unable to view my past booking or leave a review.
  6. [R5] Viator Tours & Attractions 5/5 · US Website: Website is easy to navigate
  7. [R12] Viator Tours & Attractions 3/5 · US Wish we could have gotten help: I called to add one more person to my tour and I had to start with a brand new tour for the one person now I’m hoping I get on the same tour this was not comfortable and assuring
  8. [R1] Viator Tours & Attractions 1/5 · US My safety was not considered when my tour guide ABANDONED me and my friend in an obscure city.: Warning and beware! Book through ANY OTHER APP!! My friend and I were left for dead in the middle of nowhere due to being 8 minutes late to a meeting point and told to figure it out ourselves. We are tourists in a foreign country and don’t speak the language, we got lost for a few minutes and they drove
  9. [R7] Viator Tours & Attractions 1/5 · US Tour Itinerary Not Matching Experience: I used Viator this summer to book 3 different tour experiences in Europe. 2 of the 3 did NOT live up to the itinerary descriptions. Although the customer service at Viator was responsive, they were not able to get the refunds on these tours that they should have from the tour operators after not delivery the right level of experience. Afraid I will seek
  10. [R10] Viator Tours & Attractions 2/5 · US London Tour: We were coming to London for once in a lifetime visit in headed to our plan and two days before it was canceled. We were very disappointed.
  11. [R19] Viator Tours & Attractions 1/5 · US System Glitch: Twice Bitten Booked a day trip to Dover from London 2 times in a week with this app and both times were very disappointing. The first one I was told the system double booked for that day and that my group could not be accommodated. The second one I booked the system didn’t hold the date I entered and right after checkout I noticed the date was for the very next day. Problem was I
  12. [R6] Viator Tours & Attractions 3/5 · US Viator is a Platform Only: When you have an issue with a tour, and request a partial refund, Viator, as the facilitator, not the company hosting the tour, sends the complaint to the actual vendor to approve or disapprove a refund. My vendor of a Vatican tour obviously did not approve the refund nor did they authorize the publishing of my comment.
  13. [R15] Viator Tours & Attractions 3/5 · US Refund policy is awful: They are too quick to blame the guest for missing a tour.
  14. [R22] Viator Tours & Attractions 2/5 · US No support when something goes wrong: Recently had a tour operator cancel with no notice, rebooked with another provider the next day and they no-showed. Viator support was of no help other than to confirm the refund was processing. If something goes wrong, it’s on the customer to find another option and pay whatever the last-minute rate is. You think they’d at least offer a significant discount f
  15. [R29] Viator Tours & Attractions 5/5 · US Viator is The best travel site: When you need an excursion or something to do whether local or international. This site def doesn’t disappoint. Price point is fair and plethora of choices for everyone in your group. I’ve used it abroad in Dominican Republic, France, Colombia, Ireland, and Spain! Never disappointed and have nothing but great memories of my trips!
  16. [R41] Viator Tours & Attractions 5/5 · US Great Company: Really helps me out when I’m on any trip. Gives me the best activities depending on what the vibe is, doesn’t matter the location. Has helped me on family trips or even just trips with my friend. Amazing app, highly recommended, especially with the prices and the gift rewards!!!
  17. [R55] Viator Tours & Attractions 5/5 · US Quick & Easy: I had no idea I could earn cash back towards future Viator purchases!!! Such a nice reward because you never know where your next trip will take you!
  18. [R72] Big Bus Tours 3/5 · US Bus tracking: Bus tours are great with good information but bus tracking is not accurate and makes waiting time very long. It doesn’t show all the buses so it makes hard to plan for when to finish at an attraction to get the bus without having to wait 45min for a bus.
  19. [R73] Big Bus Tours 1/5 · US Terrible App and Service: This company is just terrible. The app is not accurate at all for the bus stops and the buses don’t follow the routes either. They completely skip major stops without and notice or communication. Attempting to contact their “customer service” is a waste of time and a joke. Don’t waste your time or money with this company.
  20. [R85] Big Bus Tours 2/5 · US Rating the APP not the SERVICE: To be clear, this is in no way reflects on the Big Bus Tour service as it was fantastic in London. My gripe is with the app itself, specifically the bus tracking feature. With multiple routes overlapping each other here in London, the map is incredible hard to use and to tell which direction a certain route travels. If you zoom into the map, the routes look like the
  21. [R100] Big Bus Tours 2/5 · US Not responsive enough to be useful: BigBus London. App is fine for route planning, but real time bus info is useless. Ended up having to switch to public transportation, making the fee for BigBus a complete waste of money.
  22. [R64] Big Bus Tours 2/5 · US No AC on Buses: These buses do not have AC, and I wish they fact was more visible on their website. Had I known it, I would have been more prepared or chosen another option like one of the city buses or an Uber. It was a hot day in Las Vegas and it felt like driving around in a microwave oven. They can’t control the weather, but they can control the information they share prominently in their prom
  23. [R78] Big Bus Tours 3/5 · US Not Intuitive in San Francisco: The app is not particularly intuitive. It was hard to see the sight markers because the bus icons were in the way. The maps that the bus driver handed out could have a little more information. The driver passed the first stop before everyone could figure out what was happening. Several on the bus had wanted the first stop. The audio took 4 stops to sink up with the
  24. [R79] Big Bus Tours 1/5 · US NY TOUR HAS NO AC: 99 degrees they dont even have windows
  25. [R81] Big Bus Tours 3/5 · US London: No a/c. WiFi didn’t work 4 hours into the tour around London. Drivers were nice. London was packed. Drivers were amazing with all the traffic

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store